http://www.jewishworldreview.com --
RED CHINA IS A NERVOUS, unstable and menacing empire.
Yet, ignoring the unmistakable lessons of history, the
Clinton administration is pursuing a reckless policy of
appeasement towards Beijing.

Given the credible allegations that the Clinton
administration willfully turned a blind eye to China's
ongoing nuclear espionage while lapping up its illegal
campaign contributions, you would think that Clinton
would be more circumspect in his dealings with China.
But you'd have to think again.

Indeed, after the accidental bombing of China's embassy
in Belgrade, Clinton must have groveled in apology a half
a dozen times, only to be persistently rebuffed by the
Communist regime. Only a week ago did China deign to
forgive us for our "egregious misconduct." And I don't
remember a word of reprimand from Clinton about the
theft of our nuclear technology.

Apart from Clinton's motivations, the United States better
wake up to the growing problems facing China and what
they portend for the entire east Asian region.

Signs of Beijing's instability and paranoia are everywhere.
Twenty years of market reforms have undermined the
Communist Party's dominance. China's economy is in
trouble with millions of workers losing their jobs.

A fierce power struggle adds to the chaos. Communist
Party hard-liners and the military, who long for the good
old days under Mao, are pressing for a tougher line in
Beijing.

The government is repressing dissidents with an intensity
not seen since the Tiananmen Square atrocity. Thousands
of demonstrators have been detained, and many have
been sentenced to 10 or more years in prison.

Last week, Beijing initiated a nationwide crackdown
against the 10 million member Falun Gong sect. The
Washington Post reports that this organization is not
simply a fringe movement, but a spiritual sect competing
with the Communist Party for the hearts and minds of its
young people.

But the Communist regime's aggressive behavior hasn't
been limited to its domestic policies. China has been
increasing military spending for the last 10 years to about
$30 billion a year. More disturbingly, it has become
increasingly imperialistic towards Taiwan, Japan and the
Philippines, and according to some experts, has its sights
set on the Panama Canal.

In the current issue of the "New American," Adm.
Thomas H. Moorer warns that the United States is
sleepwalking on a course to sure destruction. He argues
that by planning to transfer "this strategic canal not to
Panama, but to whichever power moves in to fill the
vacuum," the People's Republic of China will gain control
of this "critically important asset."

Instead of confronting China, we are rewarding it. And
it's not just Clinton. Congress voted Tuesday to maintain
most-favored-nation status (normal trade relations) with
China.

But China's bellicose actions towards Taiwan pose the
most immediate threat. Recent problems began in early
July when Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui demanded
that China treat Taiwan as an independent state, rather
than a renegade province. This drew a swift and
ferocious rebuke from Beijing, which insists that Taiwan
is part of China. Flexing its muscles, China boasted that it
had neutron bomb technology and placed troops on a
heightened state of alert.

Taiwan's statement was in response to China's deliberate
attempt to isolate it from the international community.
Taiwan has consistently maintained that it would only
reunite with China under democratic rule.

The Clinton administration, true to its continuing sellout to
China, strongly criticized Taiwan for its statement and
sent a representative to pressure Taiwan to soften its
position.

Bill Clinton was one of the most outspoken critics of
Serbia's Slobo, likening him to Hitler. His refusal similarly
to condemn China while reproving Taiwan demonstrates
that it is not oppressive governments that he opposes, but
only ones that do not augment his campaign war chest.

Clinton, and others advocating U.S. military intervention
in Kosovo, argued that Slobo posed a threat to European
stability. That was a disingenuous argument born of
convenience.

But Serbia's potential impact on Europe stands in sharp
contrast to China's destabilizing capacity in East Asia and
the remainder of the world. There can no longer be any
doubt that Red China has replaced the Soviet Union as
the world's foremost evil empire.

Our policy of placation towards China is dangerously
shortsighted. By failing to confront China over Taiwan
(not to mention the theft of our nuclear technology), the
United States is inviting more ominous aggression across
the Taiwan Strait.

Totalitarian states like Red China are congenitally
incapable of responding to conciliatory diplomacy. They
only understand force and threats of force. It's time to
put Beijing on notice that military action against Taiwan
will not be
tolerated.

JWR contributor
David Limbaugh
is an
attorney
practicing in
Cape Girardeau,
Missouri,
and a
political
analyst
and
commentator. Send your comments to him by clicking here.